Trump on UCLA basketball players: 'I should have left them in jail'

President Donald Trump fired back Sunday at the father of one of the UCLA basketball players arrested in China earlier this month, saying that LaVar Ball did not appear grateful for his help in securing the players' release and that he should have left them in China longer.

LiAngelo Ball and two others were detained after being accused of shoplifting from a Louis Vuitton store near the hotel where the UCLA Bruins were staying before their season-opening game against Georgia Tech.

Story Continued Below

"Shoplifting is a very big deal in China, as it should be (5-10 years in jail), but not to father LaVar," the president wrote on Twitter Sunday evening. "Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead. China told them why they were released. Very ungrateful!"

Earlier on Sunday, he tweeted: "I should have left them in jail!"

LaVar Ball, owner of the Big Baller brand, indicated to ESPN on Friday that he didn't think Trump was an integral part of getting his son home, saying, "Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out." He also said the incident was being blown out of proportion.

"They try to make a big deal out of nothing sometimes. I'm from L.A.," LaVar Ball said. "I've seen a lot worse things happen than a guy taking some glasses."

Trump has been tweeting about the case for days. First, he mused whether the players would thank him for his efforts (they did), then said they were welcome and should stay out of trouble. The elder Ball's comments seemed to catch his attention again.

UCLA has suspended the three players indefinitely.

Trump has feuded with athletes several times since taking office. After some NFL players protested police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem earlier this year, Trump lambasted them at a political rally in Alabama and said they were disrespecting the flag.

He also got into a dispute with two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry over whether the Golden State Warriors star would visit the White House to celebrate the team's NBA title.